Cotton picker



Nov. 26, 1946. A. J. KAY 2,411,575

CQTTON PICKER Filed Nov. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l M! as IN VEN TOR.

BY v v r Arragmsv NOV. 26, 1946. KAY I COTTON PICKER I Filed Nov. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

.A e-fHue J KA A TTOENEY Patented Nov. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT" .oFr1cE.-' Y

2,411,575 COTTON PICKER Arthur J. Kay, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 28, 1944*, Serial No. 565,544-

. 3' Claims. 1

This invention relates to' a cotton picker.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for picking or working over cotton or other material which has'become compacted in mattresses.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a cotton picker including a novel housing.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a cotton picker including a novel rotary tooth member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cotton picker including" a novel screen arrangement for removing dirt and other material from the cotton.

OtherIob jects and the advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sid'eelevationof a cotton picker embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 i's a View taken on line 2--2-, Fig. 1, with the housing coverremov'ed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section takenon line 3--3, Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged plan" view showing the screenmemberi and looking in the direction of the arrows 44', Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 3. i

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, I. have shown my invention as embodied in cotton picker which is indicated generally at As shown the apparatus is mounted on legs I I which are supported on a base l2. their tops support longitudinal frame members l3 and transverse frame members, I4. The legs also support a shelf I5 on which I arrange an electric motor l6 which drives a belt l1.

Mounted upon the members [3 and I4 I arrange support members I8 and I9. These members [8 and I9 include parallel side portions on which flanges 2| on a housing 22 are arranged. The housing 22 includes a semi-cylindrical interme diate well portion 23 which at each end communicates with a frusto-conical portion 24 and thefrusto-conical portion at each end communicates with a further frusto-conical portion 25. The latter are provided with openings 26 through which a shaft 21 extends. The shaft 21 is mounted in bearings 28 and is adapted to be driven by a pulley 29 from the belt ll. frusto-conical ends cause the cotton being picked to work towards the intermediate well portion so The legs at The that it win be engaged by toothed members, to

be later-described. I

10 I arrange a reticulated mesh member 3-1. Above the" mesh member I arrange a plurality of converging to'o'thmembers 38'. The converging members 38' direct material towards frustoconical ends of tne'r'otor. Fro'in th ends the material again works towards'tne intermediate well portion so that the material: circulates somewhat before it passes to the discharge chute s v The housing 22' includes a closure" 39 which is complemental to the housing. The closure 39 has 20 a flange thereonresting'upon a cushion member 4| disposed onthe flanges 2-01 Fastening mem- V brs 42' serve to hold the closure member in place.

The closure is provided with a filling h Dp'e-r 43 which has a flaring inlet 44. The hopper 43 25 is in line with the well 23so that material passing down the hopper passes into the receptacle formed by the housing 22 and closure 39 I In order to disintegrate the wadded cotton or other materiarbeing prepared, I provide a dis- 80 integrating r'otor cage, indicated generally at 45.

This rotor includes end members 46 which are identical in construction and consists as shown of four' frame 'forming strips-t1- To provide ample strength the strips 41'' are preferably made 3 or materialof 'r shape and include bases 48: and

upstanding ribs 49. The strips 41 are bent into quadrantal form and are preferably arranged in diametrically opposed pairs as shown in Fig. 3. The strips are welded asat 48 to the shaft 21.

0 Within the strips I arrange reinforcing quadrantal plate members 49' which are planarand which are arranged. in" diametrically opposed pairs and are welded as at 50 to the shaft 21. The plate members 49' are also welded as at 5| to the bases 48 of the strips 41.

At their inner ends the strips 41 are connected to ring members 52 which are of T shape and having serrated ribs 53 forming teeth. The two ring members 52 are connected by longitudinally extending bars 54 which have outer ribs serrated as at 55 to form teeth. Thus I provide a cage which consists of the strips 41 and their connecting bars 54. Spaced axially along the bars 54 I provide quadrantal shaped circumferentially ex- 56 tend ng members 56 which include bases 5'! and 3 4 ribs 58. These members 56 are welded as at 59 said housing having a discharge chute extending to the bars 54 to hold the members in circle formfrom the body well portion, said housing having a, ing position. dust chamber below the mesh member and com- In the operation of my cotton picker, cotton is municating with said opening, said closure having fed into the hopper 43 whence it passes downa hopper communicating with the intermediate Wa dly and is engaged by the teeth on the to well portion, a rotor cage about said shaft, said cage. The cotton is pulled apart and is carried cage including a pair of spaced end members, each downwardly until it passes over the screen porend member comprising a plurality of radially dition 31 and into contact with the teeth 33 above rected, quadrantal strips having their ends sethe screen portion.- This further tears up the cured to the shaft, a circumferentially extending wadded material. The dirt or other solid maring member at the inner end of the strips of each terial passes through the screen 31 into the dust end member and secured thereto, longitudinally chamber 32 where it collects until a sliding closure extending parallel bars connecting said ring 60 is removed thus openin a discharge aperture members, circumferentially extending quadrantal 6| through which the solid material may be remembers secured to said bars and arranged to moved. fo-rm parallel spaced circles, said ring members, In the passage of the material from the hopper bars and circumferentially extending members to the chute, the fibres are entirely separated and having outwardly directed teeth thereon, freed from each other so that the contacted ma- 3. A cotton picker including a frame, means to terial is rendered light and fiufiy and is adapted support the frame, spaced support members on for reworking into mattresses and cushions. the frame, a housing including a body having From the foregoing description 'it will be apspaced flanges arranged on the support members, parent that I have invented a novel cotton picker said body including a semi-cylindrical intermewhich is simple to construct and which is highly diate well portion, said housing including a semiefiicient for its intended purpose. frusto-conical Well portion at each end of the Having thus described my invention, I claim: semi-cylindrical well-portion, said body having 1. A cotton p fi in l ing a housing having a a closure thereon, said closure being complemental well therein, a rotor cagein said housing well, said t the body, a shaftpassing through said housing,

cage including a shaft, a pair of spaced end memmeans to drive said shaft, one side of said housing bers, each end member comprising a plurality of at the lower portion of said well being removed to Strips a ged about the shaft and extending form an opening, a mesh member covering said outwardly therefrom, each strip having its outer opening, converging toothed members secured end secured to the sh aft, the strips on the two end within said housin and above said mesh member, members being arranged in opposed pairs, a cirsaid housing having a discharge chute extending cumferentially extending ring member on the infrom the lower portion of the body well portion, ner ends of the strips of each of the end members said housing having a dust chamber below the and secured thereto, longitudinally extending parmesh member and communicating with said openallel'bars connecting said ring members, and a ing, said closure having a hopper communicating plurality of circumferentially extending quadwith the intermediate well portion, a rotor cage rantal members secured to said bars and arranged 40 about said shaft, said cage including a pair of to form parallel spaced circles, said ring members, spaced end members, each end member comprisbars and circumferentially extending members ing a plurality of radially directed, quadrantal having outwardly directed ribs, said ribs being serstrips having their ends secured to the shaft, a rated to form teeth. I circumferentially extending ring member at the 2. In a cotton picker, a housing including a body inner end of the strips of each end member and having a semi-cylindrical intermediate well porsecured thereto, longitudinally extendin parallel tion, said housing including a semi-frusto-conical bars connecting said ring members, and circumwell portion at each end of the semi-cylindrical ferentially e t g quadrantal e s S ed well portion, said body having a closure thereon, to said bars and arranged to form parallel spaced said closure being complemental to, the body, acircles, said ring members, bars and circumferenshaft insaid housing, one side of said housing at tially extending members being disposed in the the lower portion of said well being removed to intermediate body and closure well portions'and form an opening,;a mesh member coveringsaid having outwardly directed ribs, said ribs being opening, converging toothed member secured serrated to form teeth.

' within said housing and above said mesh member, v i ARTHUR J KAY, 

